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The Indian cricket team's surprising 0-2 loss to South Africa in the recently concluded Test series has sent shockwaves through the squad.

Earlier this week, the visiting team handed India their heaviest Test defeat by runs, against all odds. It was the Proteas' first series win in the subcontinent in two and a half decades and the host nation's another home failure in just a year after a 12-year unbeaten run.

The positive trajectory gained during the last several months has largely dissipated and the futures of several players - as well as team coach the coach - now hang in the balance.

Initial Hope Fades Quickly

The new-look squad's strong showing in the UK this season, under a different skipper, suggested a successful handover after the close together retirements of stalwarts Ashwin, Sharma, and Virat Kohli.

An easy 2-0 victory over the Windies at the commencement of the home season enhanced that perception, till the South Africans arrived to deliver a devastating defeat.

The home side were somewhat unlucky that leader Shubman Gill suffered an injury early on in the first Test and was ruled out in the contest. However, that fails to account for the side of the terribly sub-par performance in each match against South Africa.

Several established players were damaged, and a few members eyeing long red-ball careers were exposed as not up to the mark - technically or mentally - for the Test cricket.

Concerning History

This was the second clean sweep at home endured by the Indian team in just over a year. Last year, unfancied New Zealand had secured a remarkable 3-0 triumph which practically cost India a place in the Test championship finale.

The latest loss to South Africa risks harming the team's prospects of reaching the decider of this edition also.

Previously ranked third in the Test championship standings prior to the contest, the side have been relegated to fifth place. Although nine more Tests are remaining, half of these are against the Aussies. Ordinarily, performing in familiar conditions would be a major plus - even against the mighty Aussies. But the disasters against the Kiwis and South Africa offer no room for that confidence.

Reasons for the Slump

The national team's vulnerability in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. However, why the team have fared so badly in Test matches at home lately is still bewildering.

In the 21st century, the Indian cricket team were seen as unbeatable in red-ball cricket at home. In hot, humid conditions and on tracks that favored spin bowling and aided their squad, the hosts dominated all comers. The occasional loss, like in 2012-13 against the English, was considered an exception.

Currently, the team seem beatable in their own backyard.

Against the Kiwis in last year and the Proteas currently, the home side were defeated by their own tactics. The pitches they developed to favor their game backfired spectacularly, as opponents capitalized on them more skillfully, beating the Indian batters and bowlers when it counted the most.

What Happened?

Some suggest that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because domestic pitches have been changed from turners to quick wickets to train the squad to perform better abroad.

Others highlight that the IPL, in which several international stars participate, has reduced the surprise and difficulty home wickets would pose to them earlier.

While there is a degree of accuracy in these views, it fails to account for the reason India's performances at home have witnessed such a sharp fall.

Several Weaknesses

The majority of ex-cricketers point to a complex, multi-headed problem, not limited to a few causes.

Analysts and squad members have highlighted multiple deficiencies post India's disappointing performance to the Proteas: underestimating the opposition, poor preparation, questionable picks, overconfidence, frequent changes of the team lineup, and favoring limited-overs over red-ball cricket.

This was obvious in the displays of the team.

Players such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom great things were anticipated, paid for their nonchalance, while Sai Sudarshan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Jurel - who were aiming to establish their place in the team - were found wanting in technique and temperament, paying a heavy price for their lackadaisical method.

Only a handful - Jadeja, Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Sundar - lived up to their talent and reputation - but not well enough to secure victories.

Management Questions

The post-mortem also included not only the cricketers - selectors and support staff were also questioned, driven by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. At the centre of the examination was head coach Gambhir.

At his post-series press